Other Scientific Names
Ochetorhynchus ruficauda [BirdLife International (2004)], Ochetorhynchus ruficauda [Stotz et al. (1996)], Upucerthia ruficauda [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)], Upucerthia ruficauda [Stotz et al. (1996)], Upucerthia ruficauda [BirdLife International (2008)]
Other Names (World)
Straight-billed Earthcreeper, Meyen's Earthcreeper
Straight-billed Earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus ruficaudus) [XC507263]
by Carlos Ferrari from Salta: Los Colorados (5), PN Cardones, Argentina (song, end of song)
Straight-billed Earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus ruficaudus) [XC90531]
by Cristian Pinto from Putre, XV Region, Chile (call)
Subspecies
Sometimes included with Bolivian Earthcreeper (Tarphonomus harterti) and Chaco Earthcreeper (Tarphonomus certhioides) in a separate genus Ochetorhynchus, but plumage similarities suggest a closer relationship to Rock Earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus andaecola). Differences in coloration of nominate subspecies between northern and southern extremes (with darker and less reddish upperparts in south) indicate either strong clinal variation or, perhaps, an undescribed subspecies.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
montanus d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1838 - Andes of southern Peru (Arequipa to Tacna), Bolivia (La Paz south to Potosí), northern Chile (Tarapacá, and probably eastern Antofagasta) and northern Argentina (Jujuy south to Catamarca).
famatinae (Nores, 1986) - North-western Argentina (Sierra de Famatina, in La Rioja).
ruficaudus (Meyen, 1834) - Andes of western Argentina (San Juan south to southern Chubut) and adjacent Chile (south to Santiago).